"The Monitor" newspaper center layout, designed by Katrina Chandler. Story and photos also by Katrina Chandler

1. 14B • NOVEMBER 5, 2009 • FORT BLISS MONITOR FORT BLISS MONITOR • NOVEMBER 5, 2009 • 15B
The Soldier and Family Assistance Center organized the fall festival Brandon Yanez created his own mask at one of the craft tables set The United Service Organization booth gave temporary tattoos to the
for the Warrior Transition Battalion Saturday in the SFAC ballroom. up during the Warrior Transition Battalion fall festival Saturday in Warrior Transition Battalion fall festival attendees Saturday in the
From left, SFAC Director Nancy Mainor, Chasidy Rosales, Tracy the Soldier and Family Assistance Center ballroom. Soldier and Family Assistance Center ballroom. USO was one of
Guenther, Calvin Wood and Sgt. Maj. Roosevelt Turner II. many booths set up helping to make the festival fun and education-
al.
1st Lt. Hali Picciano
gets mummified by her
daughter Lana, dressed
as Cinderella, during
the Warrior Transition
Battalion fall festival
Saturday in the Soldier
and Family Assistance
Center ballroom.
If anyone was up for food after feeling
A
fter recently moving into a new
building, the Soldier and Family around for witch’s eyeballs, there was a table
Assistance Center put on a fall festi- full of food, desserts and of course, candy.
val for the Warrior Transition Battalion so “It’s great that people take time to come and
Soldiers and their families could enjoy their volunteer to do this for the Soldiers and their
Halloween afternoon with booths and games. families,” said Capt. Steve Meadows, A
SFAC is designed to help Soldiers in transi- Company, WTB commander.
tion by providing information on education and “It gives [the Soldiers] a release to spend
family or health benefits. This is the first year time with their families outside of the home
SFAC has put together a festival for the battal- environment,” said Meadows. “And know that
ion. other people care about them and care for their
Tables were set up around the ballroom, families, and they are not just out there by
manned by volunteers from organizations, themselves; there is a support network out there
making the festival fun and educational. The to help them.”
United Service Organizations ran a table giving SFAC Director Nancy Mainor said it took
temporary tattoos and doing face painting while the staff about a month to plan and put together
also giving out free books and toys to the chil- the festival for WTB and their families.
dren. The University of Phoenix had a table set “I think it is going very well. We have a real-
up full of pamphlets and pens while also run- ly nice turnout and kids seem to really be enjoy-
ning a beanbag toss in the middle of the room. ing themselves and the adults are enjoying
Army OneSource and the Red Cross each had themselves seeing the kids run around,” said
tables set up providing information for Soldiers Mainor.
and families attending the event. After seeing how successful this year’s festi-
Story and photos by Katrina Chandler Other volunteers ran some tables providing val was going, Mainor said it would definitely
Special to The Monitor the children an opportunity to create masks be something worth looking into doing every
from paper plates and also to get grossed out by year.
sticking their hands inside a mysterious box “We are very grateful to have all the support
with labels like spider legs, bat wings, goblin from the community,” said Mainor. “And
guts or Frankenstein’s brain. thanks to my staff for doing this.”
Booths with information and crafts were set up around the Soldier Soldier and Family Assistance Center employee, Tracy Guenther, Crafts were set up at the Warrior Transition Battalion fall festival Dakota Massey, son of Staff Sgt. Jason Massey of A Co. WTB, got a
and Family Assistance Center ballroom Saturday at the stands with Capt. Steve Meadow, A Co. Warrior Transition Battalion including a booth where children could create masks using paper spider painted on his hand from a volunteer at the United Service
Warrior Transition Battalion fall festival. This table was lined commander, in her homemade scarecrow costume Saturday at the plates, stickers and popsicle sticks Saturday in the SFAC ballroom. Organization booth where they were also giving temporary tattoos
with boxes that had spooky suprises for anyone brave SFAC ballroom during the WTB fall festival. and free toys to children at the Warrior Transition Battalion fall fes-
enough to stick their hand inside. tival Saturday in the SFAC ballroom.